Involvement of activation of PI3K/Akt pathway in the protective effects of puerarin against MPP+-induced human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell death

► Puerarin prevents against MPP+-induced cell death through PI3K/Akt signal pathway. ► Puerarin-activated PI3K/Akt signal pathway blocks MPP+-induced p53 nuclear accumulation. ► Puerarin protects against MPP+-induced cell death through p53-mediated Puma, Bax and caspase-3 dependent apoptosis. In an attempt to clarify the protective effect of puerarin on toxin-insulted dopaminergic neuronal death, this present study was carried out by using a typical Parkinson’s disease (PD) model – 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium iodide (MPP+)-induced dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cellular model. Data are presented, which showed that puerarin up-regulated Akt phosphorylation in both of MPP+-treated and non-MPP+-treated cells. The presence of PI3K inhibitor LY294002 completely blocked puerarin-induced activation of Akt phosphorylation. Moreover, puerarin decreased MPP+-induced cell death, which was blocked by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002. We further demonstrated that puerarin protected against MPP+-induced p53 nuclear accumulation, Puma (p53-upregulated mediator of apoptosis) and Bax expression and caspase-3-dependent programmed cell death (PCD). This protection was blocked by applying a PI3K/Akt inhibitor. Additionally, it was Pifithrin-α, but not Pifithrin-μ, which blocked MPP+-induced Puma and Bax expression, caspase-3 activation and cell death. Collectively, these data suggest that the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in the protective effect of puerarin against MPP+-induced neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell death through inhibiting nuclear p53 accumulation and subsequently caspase-3-dependent PCD. Puerarin might be a potential therapeutic agent for PD.